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NEW YORK (AP) — The convenience store giant 7-Eleven is gearing up for a significant reduction in its North American presence, with plans to shutter hundreds of stores this year.
Recent earnings reports reveal that the company aims to close 645 outlets during the 2026 fiscal year. This number significantly surpasses the 205 new locations it intends to launch within the same timeframe.
Seven & i Holdings Co., the Japanese parent company of 7-Eleven, indicated that these closures will involve a transition to wholesale fuel stores. Financial documents highlight a growing trend: 7-Eleven Inc. has been steadily launching new wholesale fuel locations across North America, reaching over 900 as of December 2025.
The company has yet to provide detailed reasons for the closures or clarify which specific locations will be affected. The Associated Press has reached out to 7-Eleven for more information.
As of now, 7-Eleven operates over 86,000 stores across 19 countries worldwide, according to its website. The brand’s North American branch, headquartered in Texas, manages more than 13,000 stores in the United States and Canada.
The convenience giant has closed hundreds of underperforming locations over the years, and the latest cuts arrive as higher prices strain consumers worldwide. The U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran has especially rattled energy markets, with drivers now facing soaring gas prices.
Consumers were facing stubborn inflation even before the war. In North America specifically, Seven & i noted in its April 9 report, “although the economy remained robust, personal consumption also began to soften” for the 2025 fiscal year — “particularly among low-income households, as inflation continued to weigh on spending.”
Openings for Seven & i subsidiaries outside of North America are set to outpace the stores they’re closing — including Seven-Eleven Japan, which expects to close 350 stores and open 550 locations, per financial filings.
Seven & i expects its revenue to fall 9.4% for the current fiscal year, totaling a projected nearly 9.45 trillion yen (about $59.5 billion).
The company has been looking for new opportunities for growth, and last year outlined a wider transformation plan aimed at boosting its convenience store offerings. Among goals, Seven & i has said it would invest in more fresh food offerings and expand its “7NOW” delivery service.
The changes also arrive under new leadership. Stephen Hayes Dacus became Seven & i’s CEO last spring.